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Wineries Innovate, Win Awards
Crown Winery goes solar, Beachaven Winery wins awards
Beachaven Vineyards and Winery in Clarksville is one of the state’s oldest. Its wines have won more than 450 awards, and its first strawberry wine debuts this summer.Rolling hills, fertile soil and
a long, sun-kissed growing season make Tennessee an ideal setting for the small commercial vineyards and wineries that dot the state.
Close to 40 wineries operate throughout Tennessee, benefiting farmers and turning out thousands of cases of award-winning wines.
A newcomer on the scene,
HRH Vineyards and Crown Winery is located on the century-old Hamilton farm just outside Humboldt in Gibson County.
The principal owners – British gas physicist Peter Howard and former Miss Tennessee Rita (Wilson) Howard – bought the place in 2004 and harvested their first official crop of grapes in 2008.
And the operation has gone green with solar electricity.
“It’s perfect for solar power because we get so much sun,”
says Rita Howard. “Peter’s been way ahead of his time as far as alternative energy goes. The solar panels were expensive to install,
but so far we’ve generated more electricity than we’ve used.”
The rooftop photovoltaic
panels – one of the largest private installations in the state – generate an estimated 22,543 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, which is sold to TVA through its Green Power Switch program. The system offsets some 15 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
Crown Winery held its grand opening in conjunction with the West Tennessee Strawberry Festival in May 2009. The winery introduced inaugural vintages such as Strawberry Strut – made from Gibson County strawberries – and Sole Mio – a Cayuga-chambourcin blend. Crown Winery makes a variety of red and white wines.
About two hours northeast in Clarksville is Beachaven Vineyard and Winery Ltd. – one of the
oldest wineries in the state and
an important player in the history of Tennessee wineries.
Montgomery County Judge William O. Beach founded the winery with his son-in-law and daughter, Ed and Louisa Cooke, soon after commercial winemaking became legal.
Prohibition had dried up the state’s budding wine business back in 1919, but Beach planted a small vineyard in 1970 and began studying the art and craft of winemaking for his own enjoyment. His hobby ultimately led him and
a few fellow amateur vintners to pioneer legislation in the late 1970s that brought the Tennessee wine industry back to life.
TOUR TENNESSEE WINERIES
Tennessee’s 37 (and counting) wineries make great agri-tourism destinations. Most offer tours, wine-tasting, gift shops and retail wine sales, and many hold concerts and special events on the grounds. Find out more by downloading the Guide to Tennessee Wineries at www.tennesseewines.com.
Story by Carol Cowan
